Table of Contents

Acronyms

Maps + diagrams

Prologue

1. In the beginning

2. Preparing to open the doors

3. The first days

4. One whole month

5. Finally establishing our routine

6. Of needlesticks and dogs

7. Death of a colleague and friend

8. Reaching the six-month milestone

9. A new year, new challenges

10. European drug consumption centres'

11. Celebrating our first birthday

12. Managing drug overdoses

13. The 18-month trial ends quietly

14. Of heroin and nursing shortages

15. A serious investigation

16. Drafting the evaluation report

17. The public release of the evaluation report

18. Decisions, decisions

19. And so ended the first trial

About the Author

Dr Ingrid van Beek is the medical director of the Sydney medically supervised injecting centre. She is a graduate of the University of New South Wales and an internationally recognised authority in harm reduction.